MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER, MAKE ME A MATCH

AUTHOR: fantasylover12001

RATING: R

SUMMARY: Several preparations for the dance are made and Draco becomes even more confused about these feelings he has about Harry. Help comes in the surprising form of Ron Weasley...

DISCLAIMER: sadly not mine or Ron and Hermione would be snogging all the time as would Harry and Draco...and Voldemort would've been dead a long time ago.

PAIRING: Draco/Harry

OTHER PAIRINGS: established Ron/Hermione and Colin/Ginny, Seamus/Dean, Neville/Luna.

A/N: Wow, almost halfway through this thing...amazing how time flies huh? Thank you all who reviewed! You guys rock!

Skeet-You'll have to wait and see about Smith...

Insert Bad Cliche Here-LOVE your username! Glad you like my characterization of Neville, I hate how other writers...write him off (bad unintended pun...). He's recently gotten to be one of my fave characters

Kelby the Slytherdor-Thanks! ;happily accepts sugar cookies;

Starrarose-Chocolate covered Dracos and Harrys, the best kind! Thanks!

CHAPTER 9: DRACO CATCHES A CLUE (FINALLY!)

To Draco's surprise no one had objected his presence at the first meeting of Dumbledores' Army the next day. Well, Smith had objected but shut up under the force of not only Harry's glare, but Granger's as well. Draco had learned early on not to make Granger mad. His cheek had never been same after that slap she'd given him in their third year and her glares were scarier then Snapes', which said something right there. So it was no surprise to him when Smith quickly shut up. That didn't stop him from glaring at Draco all through the meeting. Especially when Harry asked him to be his duel partner.

It had been awhile since Draco had dueled so it was a little challenging after a period of rest. The duel had finally ended in a draw for the two of them when Harry had to go over to the others and give pointers. Due to the peace over the last few months all of the members were a bit rusty. But by the end of the meeting they were back on track and were discussing the next spells they would be practicing.

Aside from the Smith part, Draco found himself enjoying the meeting and had to admire Harry's handling of the DA which had gained a few members since the last time according to Granger. After the meeting, he stayed behind to help Harry pick up the mess they had made in the Room of Requirement.

"Thanks," Harry said with a grin as he handed him a book that had been blasted from one of the shelves.

"No problem. Listen, we need to talk about the ball."

Harry glanced at him warily. "What about it?"

"Have you got anything for a costume?"

Harry blinked. Was that a flash of relief Draco saw? "Oh. No I don't. I hadn't planned on going to tell you the truth, because I didn't have a date."

"I see. Well, if I can have your measurements, I can order you one from Madam Malkins."

Harry started at that and blushed. "You don't have to order me a costume. I can pick out my own."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Harry, no offense, but you're the last person I would trust with picking out their own costume. You have to pay for it, though."

Harry pouted at him playfully and Draco couldn't help but chuckle at him. Inside though, he had this overwhelming feeling to kiss those pouting lips. They looked so tempting with the bottom lip sticking out like that...he shook his head, startled by the thoughts he was having.

Harry stopped pouting and looked at him in concern. "Draco, are you all right?"

He glanced at the other boy and said quickly, "Fine. I just...have something I need to do."

Harry frowned at him. "I thought you wanted to talk about the dance?"

"We'll talk about it later. Bye." With that, he all but ran from the room. From Harry and the confusing feelings he brought with him.

HpHPHp

Hermione giggled as Ron started to nibble on her neck. The two of them were in the common room which was empty for once so they didn't have to worry about catcalls or Seamus making smacking noises at the two of them. Really, with all the grief that their house mates gave them when they just snuggled, was it any wonder that they had to sneak off to places other then Gryffindor Tower to snog?

It was rather unfair now that she thought about it. If Seamus could gaze dreamily at Dean why couldn't she and Ron hold hands without hearing about it? Definitely something to bring up at the next house meeting, she thought absentmindedly, as Ron nuzzled her neck and drew her further into his strong arms.

"I wondered what Draco wanted to talk to Harry about," she wondered out loud.

Ron stopped nibbling her earlobe, much to her disappointment, and dropped his forehead onto her shoulder. "Hermione, I am trying to snog you here. I really do not want to hear or think about Malfoy and Harry while I do that."

Hermione couldn't help but smile down at her boyfriend. "So sorry."

"Thank you. Now, where were we? Oh, yes." He tilted her chin and pressed his lips to hers. After that, Hermione didn't really pay attention to anything else and just focused on her boyfriend. So she didn't notice when Harry came into the common room, stop at the sight of his two best friends making out, and then roll his eyes. She did, however, notice when he said, "God, you two. Get a room!"

Ron stopped and threw up his hands in irritation. "Can't a bloke snog his girlfriend in peace?"

Harry smirked. "Not my fault you picked a public place. Next time choose someplace more private."

"The Astronomy Tower was all ready taken by Colin and Ginny," Hermione explained.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Ron rolled his eyes in disgust. "Yeah. Ginny had the gall to come up to me after the meeting and tell me that they were taking dibs. Like I really needed to know when my little sister and her boyfriend were going to make out."

"Well, at least she spared you the embarrassment of going up there and walking in on them snogging," Harry reasoned.

Ron blinked and then shuddered. "Thanks for that mental image, Harry."

Harry grinned. "No problem."

Hermione laughed and then asked, "So, what did Draco want?"

Harry shrugged. "It was weird. He said he wanted to talk about the dance and I thought that maybe he had changed his mind but he hadn't, he just wanted to go over details."

Ron frowned. "What's weird about that?"

"We only got as far as costumes when he suddenly stared at me and then practically ran out of there saying he had something to do."

Ron looked at Harry closely, "What did he look like as he ran out?"

Harry thought for a minute. "Well, startled, I guess. Why?"

"No reason," Ron said quickly.

Harry frowned. "Right...Well, I'm going to bed. Resume snogging."

"We will, thanks," Ron called after him. He then turned to Hermione with a grin. "Looks like your plan is working."

Hermione stared at him in confusion. "How do you know my plan is working?"

Ron sighed. "I thought you were the smart one. Harry said Draco looked startled when he ran out of there, right?"

"Right..."

"Well, obviously, he must have had an epiphany. Considering Harry was there, I'd wager the epiphany was about his feelings for Harry, if he has any at all."

"How do you know that?"

"Because feelings like that are scary and shocking. Believe me, I know. Should have seen my face when I finally figured out I liked you as more then just a friend. Couldn't look at you for two weeks."

"THAT'S why you avoided me that time! I thought you were mad at me for something!"

"Not mad. Just really confused about how to act around you."

Hermione sighed. "But how do we know for sure Draco's feelings have changed?"

"We could ask him."

"Ron! He'll never tell something like that to the two of us and you know it."

"Well then I'm out of ideas."

Hermione glanced at him thoughtfully. "You and Draco play Wizard Chess occasionally now, right?"

"Yes..." Ron said slowly and then noticed the grin slowly forming on his girlfriends' face.

"Oh no. I've given you an idea, haven't I?"

Hermione grinned. "Yes, you have..."

HpHPHp

'How do I let Hermione talk me into these things?' Ron thought to himself as he approached Malfoy slowly. The blonde was sitting against a tree staring out at the lake with a pensive look on his face. Looking at him, Ron could see a little why Harry had fallen for the boy. He was very attractive. If Ron wasn't completely straight, he'd probably have fallen for him too.

'All right Weasley, be casual. Don't pump him for information. Be subtle. Never mind that it's not your forte you can do it just this once. Harry's happiness is riding on this. Why am I giving myself even more pressure?'

He resisted the urge to groan and walked up to the Slytherin, clearing his throat when he got closer. The boy looked up and blinked in surprise at Ron.

"Malfoy," Ron greeted.

Malfoy nodded back. "Weasley."

"Uh...fancy a game of Wizard Chess?" he held out the set he'd brought out almost as if it was a peace offering.

Malfoy looked at him bemusedly and said, "Sure."

'Well, the easy part is over' Ron thought as he sat down on the grass and took out the chess pieces. 'Now, how to get him to talk...'

HpHPHp

The game he and Weasley had started had been going on for about half an hour now. The last few games they'd played had lasted two hours at the most so it was hardly over. They chatted a little in between moves talking about obscure things like how boring History of Magic was and how annoying they both found Zacharias Smith. Draco had been relieved to find he was not the only one to feel contempt for the loud mouthed Hufflepuff. Now, at least, he knew it wasn't just the jealousy he felt whenever the other was near Harry that made Smith dislikable.

He sighed as his thoughts once again wandered to Harry. Lately, all his thoughts seemed to be centered on the Gryffindor who brought out these confusing feelings in him.

"So, I hear you and Harry are going to the dance together," Weasley said casually before making his knight move and whack one of Draco's pawns.

Draco sighed. He'd wondered when the redhead was going to bring this up. He'd been expecting it really, ever since he'd asked Harry to the dance. He knew Granger and Weasley were very protective of their friend even if the other hadn't noticed it.

"Don't tell me, this is when you tell me that if I hurt his feelings or something you'll break my neck, right?" he asked, before ordering his queen to move.

Weasley grinned. "I wasn't going to say that, but now that you mention it."

The blonde looked at him warily, "Then what were you going to say?"

"I was going to ask you what made you do it?"

"Didn't Harry tell you?"

"Yes. But why did you use that tactic? You could have just told Smith to piss off."

Draco snorted. "I'm not you Weasley. I like to get rid of pests with more refinement."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Of course. Heaven forbid a Malfoy tell anyone to piss off. So, why that way?"

Draco shrugged. "I don't know. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Besides, I needed a date anyway and Harry's a decent bloke." 'And very attractive when he pouts...ugh! Not again!'

Ron studied him for a moment. "No other reason?"

"No," he said calmly.

"Hmm."

They made a few more moves without conversation and then Draco surprised himself by asking, "How did you figure out you had feelings for Granger?"

Ron blinked at him. "All right, that was completely random. Why?"

Draco shrugged. "I'm curious."

Ron studied him with a frown and then said slowly, "Well, it was sort of a gradual thing."

"What do you mean?"

"I started noticing things about her. She was cute when she smiled or wore her hair in a bun. She looked pretty in certain light. I liked how her eyes lit up when she talked about books. That sort of thing. Plus, I kept getting jealous if any guy besides Harry would spend time with her. That was the main tip off."

"But how did you KNOW?"

"Believe it or not, it hit me in Divination."

Draco stared at Weasley.

He knew that the other had been forced to take the class for the past two years because it had been revealed that he had slight clairvoyant abilities the summer before their sixth year. The boy had gotten a few precognitive dreams involving Death Eater attacks that had helped the Order avoid a few massacres. Unfortunately the gift wasn't strong and Ron couldn't call up a vision when he wanted too or needed too. They came whenever they saw fit. They didn't always come when trouble was brewing either, as showed by the last Death Eater attack.

The redhead had protested loudly about having to still take Divination but his protests had fallen on deaf ears much to his frustration and Harry and Granger's amusement. He remembered the two of them teasing Ron about having to put up with Trelawny for two more years.

"Let me get this straight. You figured out you liked Granger during DIVINATION?" he asked incrediously.

Weasley grinned. "Shocker isn't it? First time that class has ever been useful."

"HOW?"

"Well, I was sitting there listening to Trelawny go on and on about how we're all going to die and blah blah when I started to think about what Hermione would be saying if she heard all this rot. I started to imagine the look on her face as she told off the old bat and that's when it hit me that I was attracted to Hermione and liked her as more then a friend. I sat there with my mouth hanging open for awhile until Trelawny saw me and asked me if I was having a vision."

Draco stared at him. "That's it? That's how you knew?"

The other boy looked at him indigently. "What do you mean, that's it? That was the easy part!"

"What was the hard part?"

"Getting the nerve to ask her out on a date!"

"Oh."

'Is that what's going on with me? Do I like Harry as more then a friend? That would explain why I suddenly feel these urges to kiss him' he thought watching Ron's King move and was startled out of his thoughts by Ron grinning triumphantly and saying Check.

He glanced down and the board and cursed.

A/N: Once again PLEASE REVIEW!!!